WATSONVILLE—A 21-year-old man died Sunday night after he was shot near Coward and Carlton roads, a rural area in the outskirts of Watsonville.
The victim has been identified as Abel Ruiz.
According to Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Dan Robbins, a passerby saw a man who was in medical distress around 8pm and called 911. He was taken to a trauma center, where he died from his injuries.
The incident is under investigation. It is not yet clear whether the shooting was gang motivated, Robbins said.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is now asking for help from the public. Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt. Bill Burnett at 454-7702.
